Abstract: A device for detecting and indicating the presence of corrosive fluids in a specified volume, as in the insulating blanket surrounding the pipes in a heavy water plant, is disclosed. The device includes a housing containing a primary indicator such as a bobbin with a long, brightly colored ribbon wrapped therearound, and a secondary indicator. A compression spring abuts the secondary indicator and is held in compression by a corrodable link anchored at one end to the housing and at the other end to the secondary indicator. The link is exposed to the volume being monitored and if there is a corrosive fluid present the fluid will corrode the link until it breaks. The spring force is released to act on the secondary indicator to project the primary indicator from the housing. The ribbon unwinds from the bobbin to provide a visual indication of the presence of the corrosive fluid.

Abstract: A sample analyzer for quantitating relatively small amounts of clinically significant compounds in a liquid sample together with a sample mixing device (sampler) is disclosed. The analyzer has a transparent cell for holding the liquid sample. A light source focuses a stable light beam onto the sample so that fluorescent particles in the sample cause fluorescent emissions, the intensity of which is a function of the intensity of the light beam and the concentration of fluorescent particles in the sample. A detector in optical communication with the cell receives and senses photons forming the fluorescent emissions of the particles when excited by the light beam. The sampler holds a multiplicity of vials in an upright position in a row, advances the vials in incremental steps to present them at an aspiration station and includes an aspirator having a downwardly open suction tube that is vertically inserted into and withdrawn from the vials.

Abstract: A slide transfer mechanism is disclosed for advancing an analysis slide through a plurality of work stations in a chemical analyzer. The transfer mechanism comprises a pair of slidable members which are movable together to advance slides in each of the stations and are movable independently of each other to advance slides in less than all of the stations. The slides are releasably held by spring means in each of the work stations.

Abstract: A method of on-site determination of the presence of corrosive material in lubricating oil, comprising the steps of placing oil in a solvent of selected composition, titrating the resultant sample-solvent mixture with titrants of predetermined concentration to selected pH values, measuring the volumes of the titrants required to achieve the selected pH values, and thereafter generating signals which relate to the volumes of the titrants measured and indicating the quantity of the corrosive material in the lubricating oil.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for characterizing a population of cells or particles such as blood cells or viruses by automatic means in a flowing stream which comprises: Novel suspending and dispensing means; controlled dispensing of a plurality of portions of the sample population; modification of the suspending milieu, mixing each portion with a different test reagent to elucidate a particular character of the sample; novel electrical separation means; separation of components of said mixture into different streams by said separation means; means for serially measuring properties of at least one of said separated streams to provide a series of measurements relating the reaction of the population to a plurality of different reagents for detailed characterization of said population.

Abstract: Samples of blood from hundreds of patients are held in test tubes mounted in twenty endless chains of the same number of links, each chain being mounted on a chain-holder keyed so as to be insertable for mounting on only one sector of a rotary disk. A locking member by which the chain is closed must occupy the inside position when the chain is mounted. Since each sample then has a distinctive machine address, program control can then drive the machine so that all the individual samples requiring transfer of a portion for a particular analytical procedure are successively presented to a pipette transfer device, chain by chain, with rotation of all chains so that the chain presented to the pipette apparatus will present in succession only those individual samples requiring the particular analysis samples for the next analytical procedure.

Abstract: A portable fluid analyzer has a sampling section with flow passage structure for sealing engagement with a discharge port of a zwickel fitting or the like and retainer structure for engagement with the fitting. The retainer structure is urged by a spring towards a retaining position and is movable, by a manual operator towards a released position. When the retainer structure is engaged with the fitting and the manual operator is released, the sealing member is urged by the spring into engagement with the fitting's discharge port. The analyzer also includes an analysis chamber connected to the discharge end of the flow passage structure and monitoring means for providing an output as a function of a constituent of the fluid in the analysis chamber.

Abstract: A method for the automatic, electro-chemical determination of the end point of titration utilizing an initial, continuous addition of the titrant, up to a predetermined value, followed by a step-by-step addition with a resting time inserted therebetween for stabilization of the solution is disclosed. As the titrant is being added to the bath sample in constant volume units, a measured value is formed after every such addition. The difference to the preceding measurement is determined and the three consecutive differences of greatest magnitude are utilized in a mathematical formula for calculating the end point. The titration ceases when the greatest difference lies between two lesser values.

Abstract: This invention concerns an analysis reactor.This reactor is characterized by the fact that it comprises a generally cylindrical body open at the bottom and surrounded by two annular chambers, an upper one containing an inlet pipe and opening into the reactor through a number of radial apertures and a lower one inside which a cooling agent circulates, the cylindrical body ending at the bottom in a base containing a drainage hole with a device to plug this hole. The reactor body also contains an overflow pipe below the upper chamber.This invention also concerns the use of such a reactor to analyse a sample in powder form.

Abstract: An apparatus wherein each glass plate is arranged between a male mold and female mold and is successively intermittently moved through a heating molding chamber and the male mold is depressed and undepressed whenever the glass plate stops in a fixed position in the heating molding chamber to quickly and continuously produce Braun tubes of an accurate shape.

Abstract: An arrangement for chemical analysis of a small quantity of sample wherein a specimen of a small size is passed through a porous distribution first medium onto a reagent-containing second medium is disclosed. The reagent-containing second medium is a thin, flat, liquid-impervious medium. A reagent is encapsulated upon the second medium as a flat, liquid-phase surface. The first and second mediums are so arranged and disposed that when firmly pressed together, the encapsulated liquid reagent will be liberated and the specimen will be distributed through the first medium onto the liquid-phase liberated reagent where the subsequent reaction of the liquid-phase reagent and the specimen can then be identified by reading means.

Abstract: Automatic continuous competitive binding analyzer comprising: controlled combination and incubation of ligand, labeled ligand, and ligand specific binding agent; isolation of serial samples by spacer fluid; light absorbing agent for identifying portions of stream; light activated fluid control directing fluid flow and processing; separation of bound ligand from unbound ligand; novel electroextraction for separating certain molecules in flowing stream; serially introducing separated portions of stream into label measuring device. Use of a plurality of static detectors to reduce average processing time below radioactivity measurement time when label is radioactive.

Abstract: The invention is concerned with particles consisting of a compound of an active material and foamed plastic, the mean density of the particles being adjustable to the special value of a foregiven fluid such that they can float in the fluid. Particles of this kind can be used (as "tracer" particles) for disturbance-free visualization of fluid flows and for suspending active materials of higher density than that of the fluid homogeneously in the fluid volume.Concerning the first usage, the flow pattern of a flowing aqueous fluid is visualized by spacedly suspending in the fluid approximately spherical particles of a foamed plastic labeled with zinc sulfide phosphor and having a diameter smaller than 0.5 millimeters and by exciting the phosphor with pulses from a UV laser.

Abstract: A control method and apparatus is provided for the on-line control of crystallizer apparatus and the like to maintain predetermined operating parameters including crystal size distribution and growth rate to achieve stable, predetermined optimum continuous crystallizer operation for optimum crystal product output and purity and to avoid process transients, undesirable cycling behavior, system malfunctions and crystallizer downtime. The control method and apparatus develops on-line control signals for the process control of predetermined manipulated process variables in a closed-loop fashion. The control signals are obtained by the on-line measurement of a preconditioned, classified sample of the population distribution of the crystallizer. A zone sensing or light scattering particle analyzer is utilized by the on-line control apparatus to provide population distribution data to the control apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to cuvettes for use in apparatus for the examination of liquid samples, such as automatic chemistry apparatus. Cuvettes are formed as a continuous integral strip, the strip between adjacent cuvettes being made flexible so as to permit relative angular movement of adjacent cuvettes in the horizontal and preferably both the horizontal and vertical planes in use. An apparatus for use with the cuvettes includes a carrier for receiving the cuvette strip in located position, and scanning means for scanning the cuvettes sequentially with appropriate radiation which is transmitted through the samples in the cuvettes.

Abstract: An automatic analysis apparatus which makes use of an exhaustive type reaction vessel, comprising a movable reaction line provided along its overall length with an engage portion operative to be engaged with the reaction vessel, a reaction vessel supply station, a reaction liquid measuring station and a reaction vessel discarding station, all of the stations being arranged along the reaction line in the order as mentioned above.

Abstract: Apparatus is disclosed for mixing and then withdrawing a sample of a liquid suspension from a multiplicity of upright vials for subsequent processing of the sample in individual batches. A holder supports the vials in a row and advances them in incremental steps so as to present them at an aspiration station. An aspirator at the station includes a downwardly open suction tube that can be vertically inserted into and withdrawn from the vial. While in the vial, the tube is subjected to a vacuum to withdraw the sample from the vial for flowing it to an instrument. The suction tube is surrounded by a rotary mixer which is activated prior to the withdrawal of the sample to uniformly disperse particles in the liquid. The suction tube and the mixer are generally horizontally movable so that they can be inserted in a container holding a rinsing solution after each withdrawal of a sample liquid from a vial to prevent cross-contamination of the samples.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for analysis of certain molecules in the presence of other molecules in a flowing stream which comprises:Controlled dispensing of sample and reagents into a flowing stream; novel electrical separation apparatus; separation of certain molecules in said sample stream into other streams by said separation means; and means for serially measuring properties of said separated molecules for quantitation of the original sample.

Abstract: The cuvette rotor assembly is adapted for use in a multistation photometric analyzer of the type wherein several chemical reactions are sequentially monitored over a predetermined time span. Such an assembly includes a ring shaped cuvette rotor having an outer circular periphery, an inner circular periphery, a first side, a second side and cuvette forming slots extending between the sides and into the rotor from the inner periphery toward the outer periphery. A mixture of reagent and sample is urged by centrifugal force into the cuvette forming slots as the rotor is rotated. A fixed beam of light is directed at one side of the rotor as the rotor is rotating and the light that passes through each cuvette as a reaction is taking place therein is sensed and measured.

Abstract: Continuous enzyme analyzer including dispensing of samples, reagents, and wash liquid, and separation of certain molecules into multiple individual streams, and optical flow cell for serial measurements of those multiple streams at progressively greater time intervals. Serial temperature adjustment of the streams to conserve reagents. Improved optical cell structure intergrating mixing, temperature control, and multiple optical flow paths each providing sensing of a portion of the stream at progressively greater time intervals in a single laminated apparatus.